One health message we all hear is that we should eat plenty of fruit and vegetables.
The World Health Organisation recommends a daily intake of at least five portions of different fruit and vegetables, although some research indicates that we should consume 10 a day.
Potential benefits include a reduced risk of strokes, heart attacks and some cancers.
Yet when we follow such advice, we may consume pesticide residues alongside the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibre.
How common are pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables?
A paper published in the journal Food Control in January last year analysed previous studies and found that 61 per cent of fruit and vegetable samples from the Middle East “contained insecticides above the authorised limits”.
As well as insecticides, herbicides used to control weeds may find their way into food.
Another study, by researchers at Dubai Municipality and the University of Sharjah and released in Food Control in November, looked at fresh vegetables imported into Dubai in 2018 and 2019. It found that 30.5 per cent of samples had pesticide residues above the maximum residue limit.
“The majority of the samples with pesticides above the MRLs were imported from developing countries,” the researchers wrote. They said broad beans were among the most heavily contaminated foodstuffs.
A US organisation, the Environmental Working Group, publishes a list of the “dirty dozen” fruits and vegetables most heavily contaminated with pesticides.
The 2022 group includes strawberries, spinach, kale, collard and mustard greens, nectarines, apples, grapes, bell and hot peppers, cherries, peaches, pears, celery, and tomatoes.
With some fruits and vegetables, including apples and strawberries, more than 90 per cent of samples contained residues of at least two pesticides.
The organisation also publishes a “clean 15” list of fruits and vegetables with low contamination rates: avocados, sweetcorn, pineapples, onions, papaya, frozen sweet peas, asparagus, honeydew melons, kiwis, cabbages, mushrooms, cantaloupes, mangoes, watermelons and sweet potatoes.
What health effects can consuming pesticide residues have?
The University of Washington reports that limited research has been carried out on the health effects of consuming pesticide residues in food, with studies focusing instead on people, such as farmworkers, exposed to the substances at work.
Links with conditions such as respiratory problems, miscarriage, birth defects, cancer and Parkinson’s disease, among others, have been detected.
One study that did look at the effects of consuming pesticide residues found that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder was more common in children thought to have eaten larger amounts.
These children had higher levels of the breakdown products of pesticides in their urine, indicating that they had consumed more in the first place.
As well as pesticide residues, fruit and vegetables — like other foods — may be contaminated with potentially harmful bacteria and viruses.
How can washing and cooking remove pesticide residues?
Prof Parvez Haris, professor of biomedical science at De Montfort University in the UK, says that washing fruits and vegetables “is likely to reduce your exposure to pesticides”.
“Some of the pesticides located on the outer surface of fruits and vegetables are likely to be removed by washing, but not those that are located within the fruits or vegetables,” he says.
The effectiveness of washing increases with time, says Charles Ssemugabo, who researches pesticide residues in food at the School of Public Health of Makerere University in Uganda.
“If you’re going to wash, wash for a minute and not just 10 seconds,” he says. “If you’re using warm water, that could be more effective than just cold water.”
Washing is best undertaken shortly before fruits and vegetables are eaten or cooked, because otherwise moisture may allow bacteria to grow and cause the food to go off.
Sodium bicarbonate is sometimes used to improve the effectiveness of washing, with fruits or vegetables soaked for between 12 and 15 minutes in a solution of one teaspoon in two cups of cold water.
Where possible, fruit and vegetables should be peeled, says Prof Haris. He says that removing the outer leaves of leafy vegetables may be useful, since they are likely to have higher levels of pesticides.
The ideal, says Mr Ssemugabo, is to combine washing and peeling, as this can maximise pesticide removal. Cooking, such as boiling or blanching, also reduces pesticide residues.
“Applying these methods in combination does make them more effective, so by the time you get to actually eat the fruit and vegetables, the levels that you’re now getting exposed to, if at all, are below the toxicological standards,” says Mr Ssemugabo.
How does choosing what you eat help?
Another recommendation is to eat a diverse array of fruits and vegetables to limit exposure to particular pesticides common in certain fruits or vegetables.
“Do not consume very high quantities of any one type of fruit or vegetable, especially if they are likely to be categories of fruits and vegetables that are widely known to be most often contaminated with pesticides,” says Prof Haris.
“Whenever possible eating organic fruits and vegetables, where pesticides have not been used, is advisable. If you have access to a garden or even a rooftop, you could consider growing your own organic fruits and vegetables.”
Both Prof Haris and Mr Ssemugabo are clear that people should not cut their overall fruit and vegetable intake to limit their exposure to pesticides, as the benefits of consuming these natural and healthy foods outweigh the drawbacks.
“I would encourage people to eat them in large quantities,” said Mr Ssemugabo. “Consume them, but be cautious, especially in environments where they do not have a good monitoring system.”
Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
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The five pillars of Islam
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
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COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
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More coverage from the Future Forum
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
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Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
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The specs: 2019 Infiniti QX50
Price, base: Dh138,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 268hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm @ 4,400rpm
Fuel economy: 6.7L / 100km (estimate)
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Porsche Macan T: The Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 265hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,800-4,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Speed: 0-100kph in 6.2sec
Top speed: 232kph
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
On sale: May or June
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
